Japanese word

慕う

Pronunciation

Romajishitau

Meaning

  • verblong for

Example

故郷を慕っています。ko kyō o shita tte i ma su

I long for my hometown.

Illustration for 慕う (long for)

More examples

異国で暮らすと、故郷を慕う気持ちが強くなります。i koku de ku ra su to ko kyō o shita u ki mo chi ga tsuyo ku na ri ma su

When I live abroad, I long for my homeland more deeply.

Core concept

Expresses a strong emotional pull toward a person, place, or thing that makes the subject wish to be close to it or return to it.

Common phrases

  • 故郷を慕うko kyō o shita u

    long for one's homeland

  • 母を慕うhaha o shita u

    long for one's mother

  • 師を慕うshi o shita u

    look up to one's teacher

Similar words

焦がれるkogareru: To yearn intensely for a person, place, or desired state.
憧れるakogareru: To admire someone or something and desire the qualities, status, or life associated with it.
恋うkou: To long for a person or place with deep affection while being apart from it.

Definition in Japanese

人や故郷などに心が引かれ、そばにいたい、または戻りたいと強く願う。hito ya ko kyō na do ni kokoro ga hi ka re so ba ni i ta i ma ta wa modo ri ta i to tsuyo ku nega u

Word origin

慕う (shitau) is a native Japanese verb, recorded as したふ (shitafu) in older spelling; the kanji 慕 (bo, "to long for") uses 心 (shin, "heart") for meaning and 莫 (bo) for sound.

Usage tips

  • 慕う (shitau) can sound warmer and more reverential than simply missing someone, so it suits writing about a hometown, a teacher, or a respected figure.

Other meanings

  • adoreverb
  • missverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word